You can Update to eTHOMAS v 9.2 Now!

As promised, eTHOMAS Version 9.2 has been released and is now available for download.  The “What’s New” Document for v 9.2 can be accessed by going to Genius on the Web under the Messaging Tab.  Once you are on Genius on the Web, click FYI at the top of the screen, and select General.  It will be listed under Genius Solutions Resources as eTHOMAS v9.2.

If you are an active, current Genius client office, the update is FREE; there is no charge for updates to the program if you are a current SoftCare subscriber.  If you aren’t up-to-date, don’t wait, update! (Unless you are beta testing any features or programs for us.  If you are beta testing something, call us before updating.)

Here is more on the "whys" and "how to-s" of good THOMAS updating.

First Incentive Paychecks Mailing Out to Non-Hospital EPs This Week

Per an Update e-mail from the ONCHIT (the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology), the first paychecks will be going out this week for individual eligible providers who completed their attestation for having met the meaningful use and other necessary requirements.  Per one of their Twitter messages this week:  “Incentive Programs have paid out $83,294,778.06 since January.”  Up to this point that would be mostly money that has gone out to Hospitals and possibly some Medicaid payments.

The ONCHIT’s newsletter also reiterated some of the money rules that apply to these payments, this year:

• Payment is based on 75% of Medicare allowed charges that are submitted no later than 2 months after the end of 2011 (the charges had to be this year, but you seem to have a grace period for reporting of up to 2 additional months).
• The max allowed incentive charges for this year is $24,000, which will yield a max check of $18,000 incentive payment.
• An eligible professional must meet the minimum threshold of $24000 in Medicare charges before they can be paid the incentive.  (I know they say you only have to report for 90 consecutive days this year, but it sounds like you may have to give yourself a longer than 90-day window if it will take you longer to generate the $24000 minimum Medicare charge threshold.  Bear this in mind as you decide when you want to start your attestation period this year to give yourselves enough time to generate the proper amount of charges.)
• You will receive payment to the TIN (taxpayer identification number) you selected during your registration for the incentive program.

Want to know more?  Check out the Medicare “Path to Payment” Incentive page.

eTHOMAS v 9.2+

Whoo-hooo!  We love a challenge and we love to add new accessories as much as you do, so I am pleased to give you a glimpse of the shiny, new, upcoming eTHOMAS v 9.2 release.  Now at the outset I can see your faces drooping saying “yeah, sure, new because you have to for the 5010 electronic format”.  However, we’re not just any software vendor, if we’re going to have a number change it’s because we want to give something more to our clients—YOU!  And did I mention?  We’re Genius.

UB-04

UB-04, also casually referred to as institutional or hospital billing, may be in your present or near future.  Many of you may work as outpatient facilities such as rehab or physical therapy facilities, etc. that may need to use this format.   At Genius we have been fielding an increasing number of calls regarding UB-04 billing:  Can eTHOMAS do it? Can we teach you UB-04 billing? Are there resources available for you “out there”?  So, here we go.

Changes this month…. New National Coordinator at the ONCHIT

Dr. David Blumenthal stepped down as the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology this month, replacing him is Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM . Dr. Mostashari is not new to the ONCHIT office, he has been working with them and the previous National Coordinator since 2009. He was the Deputy National Coordinator for Programs and Policy when I was reviewing the big ONC HIT 2009 review at the end of last year.

CMS Offers Anti-RAC Tool, Based on RAC Findings

Don’t the RACs work for CMS? Is it possible? Did the RACs spawn something useful?

Indeed it appears they have, if you can a) find it, b) use it wisely. The RACs have created a new CMS Learning Resource that you are probably not aware of: the Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter. If you go by its tagline (and you can) the newsletter’s purpose is to help you with "Guidance to Address Billing Errors". As the RAC information is beginning to rack up, CMS has found a useful way to help you use the information that they are getting back from the RACs (Recovery Audit Contractors).

Don't Miss Out on any of the Money You've Earned

Did you miss out on money last month?

Then you don't want to miss out on this special seminar!  There were enough tips to keep you in extra cash next month and throughout the year.   Sign up Now for next Wednesday April 20, or plan ahead for Thursday May 12, you still have a chance to join Karen and learn how to make your office more profitable.

You can truly go back to your office and change your office life after attending this seminar.  You are worth it and this seminar will pay for itself and you, the first day you go back and use it.

My favorite Karen quote of the day?

"Specificity is God; be detailed. Payment and maximum payment are in the details."

ICD-10 Coding is Coming – Run NOW!

I had the opportunity to sit in on some preliminary ICD-10 training being given by the Practice Management Institute (www.pmiMD.com) last week.  It was their goal to inspire confidence and a “we can do this” attitude, but honestly, the reactions I witnessed (or had myself), looked more like despair that would soon be mixed with alcohol and anti-anxiety meds.  I was a bit disheartened.  I came out of that meeting thinking “ICD-10 coding is coming- Run NOW!”

Chicken Little
I do so hate to sound like Chicken Little shouting that “the sky is falling”.  I was also seeing some benefits to updating the codes and coding.  I mean, yeah, with new technology, new procedures, and new techniques, there needed to be new codes and new code availability to cover them.  It also simplifies some things to have one CPT code, rather than a CPT code plus some DX codes.  The specificity of the codes will also make the data more valuable because you are giving more information.  Disease and treatment patterns can be studied more accurately.   The spread of disease can be studied and possibly better contained.  However, this is a beast with many tentacles, on par with the biggest of government programs and endeavors ever conceived.  Have no doubt, it is going to change the way you document patient encounters and bill out, forever.

Let’s start with the easy stuff and work our way along the ICD-10 trail.

Electronic Patient Data: The Future e-Wave Comes Crashing Down

Four quick, current looks at patient information: Need, Care, Exploitation, and Change 

NEED

Now that hospitals and offices are getting on the EHR bandwagon and they are discovering the pearls, perils, and pitfalls of it, it is coming to light that physicians aren’t the only people who need to be educated about electronic health records and using them. According to a new study by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) and some general “noticing” of things, it is being discovered that patients aren’t quite on the e-records band wagon yet either. PwC surveyed 1000 consumers and found that only 14% of them had gotten their records electronically from their physician (I didn’t see a note that indicated any connection between desiring to get their records electronically, and being able to get them because of the office not being able to issue it.) Setting aside that potential problem- 14% get e-record, 30% said they don’t know why they would ever need them, and 50% requested paper records. When consumers were asked how they would like to interact with their doctors electronically the top three answers were to: follow-up from their doctors, make appointments, learn about treatment information.

EHR- Got one?

Dr. Blumenthal Discusses Registration for EHR Incentive Programs (video +)

In the Blumenthal video above, he gave some statistics:

• About 80% of the hospitals plan to implement EHRs and work on complying with the stimulus fund program over the next two years.
• 40% of private practice physicians plan on doing the same, and 80% of them plan on implementing and working their EHR over the next two years.
• 18% of private practice physicians said they will not participate at all.

We know that the magic stimulus dollar amount an individual physician can get over the five years is $44,000. I was also reading that hospitals can get reimbursements and aid of up to $2 million.

Reschedule for Give your Practice the Raise it Deserves

Due to general concern about the massive incoming storm tomorrow's (Wednesday, 2/1/11) seminar has been rescheduled to next Wednesday (2/9/11).  If you were already signed up, you have been called, if you couldn't make it this week then by all means- Sign Up for next week!

To tide you over until then I will give you my other favorite Karen quote from last week and a prized audit tip-

Give your Practice the Raise it Deserves!

Don't miss out on this special seminar!  You still have a chance to sign up and attend the next session next Wednesday (February 2nd)!  You can truly go back to your office and change your office life after attending this seminar.  You are worth it and this seminar will pay for itself and you, the first day you go back and use it.

(It has also been approved by the AAPC for 5 CEUs.)